(Photo: Reece Andrews/WCSN)
Arizona State had three wrestlers compete in the championship round of their respective weight classes Saturday to cap a successful weekend at the Cliff Keen Invitational.
Redshirt freshman 125-pounder Richard Figueroa, 133-pound senior Michael McGee and 149-pound redshirt sophomore Kyle Parco all earned finals matchups in the winner’s bracket, while heavyweight sophomore Cohlton Schultz and 149-pound senior Kordell Norfleet continued in the consolation bracket.
Figueroa furthered already impressive early-season results, with a win over Purdue No. 2 sophomore Matt Ramos — in a matchup marked by strong defense — earning him the 125-pound crown in Las Vegase.
A high-crotch takedown Figueroa executed late in the second round was the match’s only takedown.
Before facing Ramos, Figueroa handled South Dakota State junior Tanner Jordan in a 6-3 semifinals decision largely facilitated by his 2:30 riding time advantage in the first period that seemingly salted away the bout — which concluded with chippy back-and-forth behavior that even lasted through the final whistle.
McGee defeated Michigan sophomore Dylan Ragusin in the 133-pound semifinals by a hard-fought 5-1 decision: There were two takedowns in the match’s final 30 seconds.
But McGee then lost to Cornell junior Vitali Arujau, who was named his division’s champion after a 6-1 decision.
As for Parco, the 149-pound semifinals have him an opportunity to best an old rival — Appalachian State senior Jon Jon Millner, who he narrowly beat in last season’s NCAA Championships.
Particularly reliant on a standout defensive display and two-plus minutes of riding time, Parco secured a 4-1 win.
In the finals, Parco suffered a 6-2 loss to Ohio State senior Sammy Sasso.
Schultz and 197-pound senior Kordell Norfleet endured severe setbacks in the consolation bracket.
Schultz lost via medical forfeit in the consolation semifinals after the No. 1 heavyweight was upset yesterday in the winner’s bracket.
Norfleet was eliminated because of an apparent injury after he completed a hard takedown early in his match against South Dakota State senior Tanner Sloan, the No. 1 seed of the 149-pound weight class.
